“They Played Important Roles” — VP Shettima Clarifies Remarks On Northern Governors’ Support For Tinubu
Vice President Kashim Shettima has clarified his recent comments regarding northern governors’ support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, emphasizing that they played vital roles in securing the President’s 2023 electoral victory.
The clarification follows a public statement by the Vice President during the turbaning of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the Sardauna of Ilorin.
In his original remarks, Shettima noted that only six northern governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) initially supported Tinubu’s candidacy ahead of the party’s June 2022 presidential primary.
To clear up any misconceptions, Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), issued a statement on Thursday, September 17, 2026. He explained that Shettima’s comments referred strictly to the early political consultations preceding the primary election, not the general election itself.
“The Vice President’s reference to six northern governors who believed in and supported President Tinubu was specifically about political consultations and alignments preceding the APC presidential primary in June 2022,” Nkwocha stated. “It was not a comment on the position of northern APC governors following President Tinubu’s emergence as the party’s candidate, nor was it intended to question their support during the 2023 presidential election.”
The statement added that once Tinubu emerged as the flag bearer, the northern APC governors united behind him. Their collective endorsement became a critical turning point that catalyzed national support and led to the APC’s victory in the 2023 general election.
Expressing regret over any misinterpretations, Nkwocha affirmed that Vice President Shettima holds northern leaders in high esteem and deeply values their contributions to the party. He also commended the Nigerian media for its professionalism, urging journalists to maintain accuracy and context as the nation approaches another political season.
